TestPhicau

IHFOAM is a set of solvers and boundary conditions to generate and absorb water waves actively at the boundaries and to simulate their interaction with porous coastal structures.

The main scope of these modelling tools is coastal, marine, hydraulic and offshore engineering.

1 IHFOAM Overview

The IHFOAM package includes:

• Individual boundary conditions for wave generation and active wave absorption for alpha1 and U fields. (libIHwaveGeneration.so)
  • IH_Waves_InletAlpha
  • IH_Waves_InletVelocity
• Boundary conditions for pure wave absorption applicable to U field. Based on 2D or 3D theories, both are applicable to 3D cases. (libIHwaveAbsorption.so)
  • IH_3D_3DAbsorption_InletVelocity
  • IH_3D_2DAbsorption_InletVelocity
• Solvers to be used with your favourite version of OpenFOAM or FOAM-extend. See compatibility below.
  • ihFoam
  • ihDyMFoam
• Brief reference manual
• Tutorials and validation cases

1.1 About IHFOAM solvers

ihFoam and ihDyMFoam solve two-phase incompressible flows within porous media by means of the VARANS (Volume-Averaged Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes) equations. More information will be added, in the mean time check the references.

Both solvers are derived from interFoam and interDyMFoam. Furthermore, outside the porous media, the VARANS equations are identical to the classic RANS. Therefore, ihFoam and ihDyMFoam can be used instead of interFoam and interDyMFoam even when the case presents no porous zones.

1.2 Supported Versions

Valid versions:

Known issues:

• the boundary conditions compile and everything works in serial.
  • Running in parallel yields the following error:

[user:PID] *** An error occurred in MPI_Recv
[user:PID] *** on communicator MPI_COMM_WORLD
[user:PID] *** MPI_ERR_TRUNCATE: message truncated
[user:PID] *** MPI_ERRORS_ARE_FATAL: your MPI job will now abort
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

( MPI_BUFFER_SIZE is 20000000, as for the rest of working versions, so there is no explanation to obtain MPI_ERR_TRUNCATE. )

• everything works when you compile OpenFOAM from source, as there is a problem with the precompiled installable pack. Reference [1].
  • Otherwise:
    • The solvers (even the regular version of interFoam) need to include "-linterfaceProperties" to compile.
    • IHFOAM solvers compile and work. Despite the BCs being included, apparently they are not linked, as they are not recognized.
    • If the boundary conditions are included dynamically in controlDict and used with the IHFOAM solvers, turbulence modelling does not work.

• the boundary conditions compile and work.
  • No IHFOAM solver is included, as we are experiencing severe problems with pressure calculations (not linked in any way to IHFOAM implementation) in this version. We are preparing an extensive bug report for the OpenFOAM developers. In the mean time we suggest you stay with prior OpenFOAM versions.
  • Should you want to use wave generation and absorption, see below how to link the boundary conditions dynamically in controlDict.

1.3 Ongoing Development

• The current version is 2.0, as released in 15th July 2014.
• Bug fixes will be issued on a regular basis, while the development of version 3.0 is currently ongoing.
• The new version will include major changes in the structure of the boundary conditions, which will not affect the use.

Future releases will include:

• Volume-averaged turbulence models, as seen in the third paper.
• Current generation (already pre-implemented but not referenced, as it needs further work and validation).
• Wave theories implemented as classes, gathered by an autoPtr.

Future releases may include:

• Custom IHdynamicRefineFvMesh to enable dynamic mesh refinement on snappyHexMesh-generated meshes, as seen in the fourth paper.
• Custom boundary condition to generate waves using moving boundaries, as presented in OFW9.

1.4 References and Citing

IHFOAM is a product developed in the frame of a Master and PhD Thesis at the Environmental Hydraulics Institute "IH Cantabria" of the University of Cantabria. The implementation and validation details are published in the following references:

First paper

Realistic wave generation and active wave absorption for Navier-Stokes models: Application to OpenFOAM.
Higuera, P., Lara, J.L. and Losada, I.J. (2013)
Coastal Engineering, Vol. 71, pp. 102-118.

Second paper

Simulating coastal engineering processes with OpenFOAM.
Higuera, P., Lara, J.L. and Losada, I.J. (2013)
Coastal Engineering, Vol. 71, pp. 119-134.

Third paper

Three-dimensional interaction of waves and porous coastal structures using OpenFOAM. Part I: Formulation and validation.
Higuera, P., Lara, J.L. and Losada, I.J. (2014)
Coastal Engineering, Vol. 83, pp. 243-258

Fourth paper

Three-dimensional interaction of waves and porous coastal structures using OpenFOAM. Part II: Application.
Higuera, P., Lara, J.L. and Losada, I.J. (2014)
Coastal Engineering, Vol. 83, pp. 243-258

1.5 Get Connected

To submit your feedback, suggestions, bugs... you have many options:

• The IHFOAM e-mail, found here.
• The e-mail found within the source code headers.
• The IHFOAM LinkedIn group.
• At cfd-online forum, username Phicau.

IHFOAM at cfd-online

• IHFOAM Release Thread ---- CREATE and LINK
• IHFOAM Support Thread ---- CREATE and LINK

You can be informed and get all the latest news by joining our mailing list

While we create a Mantis bug tracker or similar, bug reports can be submitted using any of the methods shown above.

2 Source Download and Compilation

IHFOAM download site can be found here.

2.1 Source Code Download

You can find IHFOAM in GitHub

To download the source code, run the following command:

git clone git://github.com/phicau/IHFOAM.git

Code updates can be downloaded in the future as follows:

git checkout
git pull

2.2 Source Code Structure

IHFOAM source code is divided in two main folders:

• genAbs --> Generation and absorption boundary conditions
  • waveAbsorption --> (BCs)
  • waveGeneration --> (BCs)
  • common --> Scripts shared by both BCs
• solvers --> Guess what's inside...
  • ihFoamXXXXX --> One for each compatible version, including ihFoam and ihDyMFoam

2.3 Compilation

Compilation has been automatized and needs to be performed only once. Since IHFOAM does not need any dependencies, the source code can be downloaded and compiled anywhere on your computer.

• First compile the boundary conditions:

cd genAbs
./allMake

The script will figure out which version of OpenFOAM or FOAM-extend you are running and set a convenient preprocessor statement to adjust the code automatically to each flavour/version.

• Second compile the solvers: ihFoam and ihDyMFoam

cd solvers/ihFoamXXXXX
./allMake

Where XXXXX denotes your flavour (OpenFOAM - OF, FOAM-extend - FE) and your version. The currently supported versions have already been shown.

2.4 Dynamic Linking of the Boundary Conditions

In order to include the wave generation and active wave absorption boundary conditions without needing to re-compile a solver, write the following code in controlDict:

libs
(
    "libIHwaveGeneration.so"
    "libIHwaveAbsorption.so"
);

3 IHFOAM Usage

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• IHFOAM is programmed in such a way that gravity has to act in the negative Z direction.
• Currently the X and Y coordinates of each boundary face are substituted by those of the centroid of the paddle to which the face belongs (similarly to what happens in the laboratory). Therefore, to obtain accurate directionality you need several paddles (nPaddles >> 1). Next releases will change the implementation so you can choose.
• Angles such as waveDir and absDir are measured in degrees with respect to the positive X axis (0º), growing towards the positive Y axis (90º).

3.1 ihFoam and ihDyMFoam Solvers

IMPORTANT NOTE:

• IHFOAM has a slightly different formulation than the one published in the third reference, due to a volume-averaging approach with an ill-posed term. The results now, however, are as good as those shown on the validation, but with different friction factors. Check out the tutorials for the dam break validation case. The wrong term slightly changed the results where gradients of porosity appeared (i.e. at the interface between the porous medium and the clear fluid, or between porous media), where not many people measure, as the flow is very dependent on the local effects (the ones that we try to filter out by volume-averaging).

Porosity is introduced by setting an initial field. It can be done using the setFields utility, in a similar way to alpha1. This field is called porosityIndex and it features the index of the porous zone to which each cell belongs.

• If no porosityIndex field is found, ihFoam is identical to interFoam.
• Index 0 represents the clear region, outside any porous medium.
• Practical examples can be found in the training materials.

The porous media properties (i.e. a, b and c friction factors, mean rock size and porosity) are included in constant/porosityDict

a               4(0.0 ... );
b               4(0.0 ... );
c               4(0.0 ... );

D50             4(1.0 ... );
porosity        4(1.0 ... );

• The first values should always be as shown, as they represent the clear flow region.

3.2 Wave Generation BCs

To generate waves you have to set the following boundary conditions.

For alpha1:

    inlet
    {
        type            IH_Waves_InletAlpha;
        waveDictName    IHWavesDict;
        value           uniform 0;
    }

For U:

    inlet
    {
        type            IH_Waves_InletVelocity;
        waveDictName    IHWavesDict;
        value           uniform (0 0 0);
    }

• The other boundary condition needed is:
  • buoyantPressure for p_rgh

3.2.1 Wave Generation Dictionary

Wave generation dictionary options

• The wave conditions are read from a dictionary file located in the constant folder.
• By default it is named IHWavesDict, however, you can name it differently setting waveDictName.
• This way you can even specify different wave conditions for different patches on your case.

All the options are gathered in the figure on the right. The rectangles indicate the different parameters and the rounded boxes denote the options available. A complete showcase for the different wave theories can be found in the reference/IHWavesDict folder.

Implemented wave theories:

waveType / waveTheory	Reference	Comments
regular / StokesI	Dean and Dalrymple (1991)
regular / StokesII	Dean and Dalrymple (1991)
regular / StokesV	Skjelbreia and Hendrickson (1960)
regular / cnoidal	Svendsen (2006)
regular / streamfunction	Fenton (1988)	No solver programmed. Use Fenton's Fourier solver (old version tested only, distributed with the materials) to set all the parameters required.
solitary / Boussinesq	Lee et al. (1982)
wavemaker / (tx/tv/txeta/tveta)	Own development	waveTheory depending on what you provide: t (time series), x (paddle displacement), eta (free surface elevation). Note that this BC replicates the wavemaker (constant) profile, but it does not move.
irregular / ()	Dean and Dalrymple (1991)	Linear summation of StokesI components. Second order by Longuet-Higgins and Stewart (1960) completed with Baldock et al. (1996)

Active wave absorption can be connected on the wave generation boundary so that waves incident to it flow out while still generating the target waves. If no other boundary is absorbing it sould be connected, to avoid a mean water level increase due to the stokes drift.

• Controlled by genAbs bool variable: true/false
• Correction velocity applied in the absDir direction. When not set or set greater than 360, it defaults the perpendicular direction to the boundary. See the first reference for a complete explanation on when it is convenient to set absDir.
• You can select nPaddles greater than 1 to obtain a better directional absorption.

3.2.2 Wave Formulae Form

All the waves in IHFOAM are generated in a similar way to the following implementation (Stokes I):

$\eta = \frac{H}{2} cos \left( k_x x + k_y y - \omega t + \psi \right)$

This means that the free surface elevation (eta) is dependent of the patch location. If you want to keep the phase meaningful I would recommend you to locate the wave generation patch at X = 0, although this is not a must.

3.3 Wave Absorption BCs

Why pure active wave absorption conditions when wave generation already includes it? Pure active wave absorption, disregarding wave generation, allows a more sofisticated treatment and better performance.

To absorb waves you have to set the following boundary condition for U. This time nothing is read from a dictionary, so everything is set at the boundary condition level. The default values are shown, so the parameters that need no different value can be left out.

2D-theory version, applicable to 2D/3D:

    outlet
    {
        type            IH_3D_2DAbsorption_InletVelocity;;
        nPaddles        1;
        nEdgeMin        0;
        nEdgeMax        0;
        absorptionDir   400;
        value           uniform (0 0 0);
    }

• absorptionDir can be used to obtain Quasi-3D behaviour (see the first reference). Its default value is greater than 360, so absorption is applied to the perpendicular direction to the patch.

3D-theory version, applicable to 3D:

    outlet
    {
        type            IH_3D_3DAbsorption_InletVelocity;;
        nPaddles        1;
        nEdgeMin        0;
        nEdgeMax        0;
        value           uniform (0 0 0);
    }

The differences between both are explained in the first reference. If you are unsure whether to use the 2D or 3D version, use the 2D, as its range of applicability is wider.

• The rest of the boundary conditions needed are:
  • zeroGradient for alpha1
  • buoyantPressure for p_rgh

Similarly to wave generation, setting nPaddles > 1 will allow directional absorption, as each paddles (vertical slices of the patch) absorbs the waves independently. For stability reasons try to keep your paddles approximately 5 cells wide at least.

• The patch is splitted in nPaddles vertical transects according to its orientation
  • If it is more perpendicular to the X axis, it uses the Y coordinates to divide the patch in nPaddles between YMin and YMax. nEdgeMin starts to count from YMin. nEdgeMax starts to count from YMax.
  • If it is more perpendicular to the Y axis, it uses the X coordinates to divide the patch in nPaddles between XMin and XMax. nEdgeMin starts to count from XMin. nEdgeMax starts to count from XMax.
• nEdgeMin and nEdgeMax solve some issues that appear on the corners, selecting a number of paddles that are only capable of taking water out according to the 2D theory.

4 IHFOAM Documentation and Tutorials

The IHFOAM documentation and tutorials are not included in the Github bundle. Instead, they can be downloaded under request in the following site:

http://ihfoam.ihcantabria.com/source-download/

Upon registration you will receive an e-mail with the download link. We kindly ask you to respect this procedure, and not to redistribute the download link, as the information regarding how many people, where and how are using the code is important for us. As stated on the Terms and Conditions, your personal information (i.e. name and e-mail) will never be shared. You can also sign up for the mailing list, to get the latest information about IHFOAM new releases and training courses.

4.1 Documentation

A brief reference document is included.

4.1.1 FourierFenton

Old version of Fenton's Fourier program to obtain the input parameters needed to set up streamfunction wave theory.

4.1.2 IHwavesDict

Directory that includes a sample of IHwavesDict file for each supported wave theory.

4.2 Tutorials

A set of tutorials, covering the use of ihFoam and the wave generation boundary conditions, is available. All the cases include a runCase and cleanCase. The first one runs all the steps needed to simulate the case and sampling/validation (when available). The second one resets the case to its initial state (i.e. with a very small size).

The practical cases are as follows.

4.2.1 baseWaveFlume

A simple wave flume (i.e. 2D channel).

• Waves are generated on the left patch (inlet).
• Waves are absorbed on the right patch (outlet), according to the 2D theory.
• Water depth is set to 0.4 m.
• The wave conditions are specified in constant/IHwavesDict.
  • Regular waves, 0.1 m high and with 3 s of period are generated according to the cnoidal theory.
• No porosity involved.
• The case can be run very fast in serial.

4.2.2 irreg45degTank

A more advanced wave case. This is a 3D wave tank with a peculiar shape, similar to the one used in the first reference. An irregular sea state is generated at patch X = 0, and absorbed elsewhere.

• A directional, irregular sea state is generated (842 wave components).
  • Note nPaddles value for directionality
• On the rest of the patches, the waves are absorbed according to the 3D theory.
  • Note also nPaddles, nEdgeMin and nEdgeMin values.
• No porosity involved.
• Case to be better run in parallel. Some known issues exist for several OpenFOAM and FOAM-extend versions.

4.2.3 CR35_dambreak

A classic benchmark case to validate free surface flow through a porous medium. It is a 2D dam break in a tank.

• Porosity.
  • Note the porosityIndex field at the 0 folder.
  • porosityIndex is set using setFields, check setFieldsDict out.
  • The porous variables are set in constant/porosityDict.
• Validation is included.
  • Sampling is not needed as free surface is obtained with a function object (included in controlDict).
  • Requirement: matplotlib (a.k.a. pylab)
  • A python script (plotValidation.py) can be run in the end to plot a comparison between the experimental and numerical data.
• The case can be run very fast in serial.

4.2.4 breakwater

A composite breakwater within a wave flume in 2D.

• Porosity.
  • Note the porosityIndex field at the 0 folder.
  • porosityIndex is set using setFields, check setFieldsDict out for setting porosity inside STL files.
  • The porous variables are set in constant/porosityDict. This time several porous media are included.
• Waves are generated in the left patch (inlet)
• Waves are absorbed on the right patch (outlet), according to the 2D theory.
• Water depth is set to 0.8 m.
• The wave conditions are specified in constant/IHwavesDict.
  • Regular waves, 0.25 m high and with 3 s of period are generated according to the cnoidal theory.
• Samping of free surface elevation and pressure is included.
  • Requirement: matplotlib (a.k.a. pylab)
  • Python scripts are included for postprocessing OpenFOAM results: postSens*.py
  • Python scripts are included for plotting postprocessed results: plotSens*.py
• The case can be run very fast in serial.

This case also involves turbulence modelling. In future releases it will include the volume-averaged k-epsilon model.